Flexible pipe coupling



y 4, 1939. M. F. WATERS 2,165,164

FLEXIBLE PIPE COUPLING Filed May 5, 1938 2 Shee'ts-Sheet l Jul 4, 1939.M F ATERS 2,165,164

FLEXIBLE PIPE COUPLING Filed May s, 19:58 2 Shee t s-Shet 2grime/Who'll" Patented July 4, 1939 PATENT OFFICE FLEXIBLE COUPLINGMillard F. Waters, Tulsa Okla., asslgnor to Banlon-Watera, Inc., Tulsa,Okla Application May 5, 1938, Serial No. 206,283

2 Claims.

My invention consists in new and useful improvements in flexible pipecouplings and has for its object to provide a device of this characterwhereby the union of two pipe sections may be effected in a. simple andrapid operation without employing the usual bolts and nuts.

I am familiar with the various conventional flexible pipe couplings butin all instances which have come to my attention, the sections aresecured together either by the use of bolts and nuts or by the ordinaryscrew thimble arrangement. With the bolted types of couplings, it is notalways convenient to locate the locking bolts and nuts at the mostavailable position on the 1: coupling, and with the screw thimble type,it is often found dimcult to apply a wrench or tool to the couplingbecause of some obstruction such as another pipe or adjacent pieceofequipment. It is therefore a further object of my invention to providea flexible'pipe coupling employing a single locking device which may beapplied at various positions, thereby avoiding the disadvantages abovenoted.

Another object of my invention is to provide a flexible coupling whichis devoid of projecting ears and anchoring abutments and wherein thelocking is effected by a wedge action entirely within the confines ofthe coupling.

A further object of my invention is to provide 30 a flexible couplingemploying two opposed series of wedging lugs which are forced intowedging engagement by a single wedge lock member adapted to apply awedging force directly behind any selected pair of opposed wedging lugs.

. With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the novel featureshereinafter set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand moreparticularly pointed out in 40 the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designatesimilar parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a view partially in side elevation and 45 partially insection, showing one form of my invention adapted to a ball and socketjoint.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is 'a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 1 but showing amodified form of sealing means.

50 Fig. 4 is a partial view in side elevation taken at right angles toFig. 1.

Fig, 5 shows a modification of my invention.

adapted to a flexible'joint, and

Fig. 6 is a partial detail of one of the coupling 55 sections of Fig. 5.

In-the drawings, referring to Figs. 1 to 4, numerals l and 2 represent apair of coupling sections internally threaded at their outer ends toreceive the complementary threads of two sections of pipes to be securedtogether. The 5 section terminates at its lower end in an enlargedsocket portion 3 adapted to receive the upper end of the ball portion lformed on the coupling section 2. The socket portion 3 is thickened atits lower extremity which carries 10 a series of outwardly projectingperipheral wedge lugs 5 spaced at predetermined intervals and adapted tocooperate with a complementary series of inwardly projecting opposedwedge lugs 6 carried on the inner periphery of an annular l6 couplingcollar 1. The top edges oflugs 6 project above the upper rim of thecollar 1 so as to form shoulders 1, whereby the collar maybe initiallyrotated in either direction by striking any of said shoulders with ahammer or other intrument.

The coupling collar 1 is open at its upper end to receive the socketportion of coupling section i and has a reduced opening at its lowere15- tremity to embrace the periphery of the ball portion 4 of section2, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the wedge lugs 6 being so spaced'on theinner periphery of the coupling collar as to accommodate thecomplementary lugs 5 on thecoupling section l. The flaring end ofeach'of the lugs Sand 6 terminates in a vertically inclined elongatedabutment 5 and 6, respectively, which are adapted to serve as opposedwedging surfaces for a wedge lock device 8 hereinafter described. Inthe, form shown in the drawings, the abutments 5'ex 5 tend upwardlybeyond the flaring edge of lugs 5, and the abutments B extenddownwardlyin alike manner, the complementary wedge lugs being oppositelydisposed in all respects. I

In Fig. 1 I have shown one form of sealing 40 means for my improvedcoupling including upper and lower sealing rings 9 and i0, respectively,each of which is composed of any suitable packing material preferablyencased in a thin strip of metal which extends over one edge and oneside of each ring, said rings being spaced apart by a metal grease ringH and fitting in suitable recesses in the inner walls of the socketmember 3 and the coupling collar 1, as clearly shown in the drawings.The grease ring H is preferably grooved at least around its outerperiphery and provided with a series of radial lubricating openings l2,the socket member 3 being drilled and threaded for an alemite fitting asat l3, such opening being in communication with the peripheral groove ofthe ring II by means of a grease cavity I4. I may also provide anadditional sealing ring I preferably of soft metal immediately adjacentthe reduced opening in the coupling collar 1 which embraces the ballportion 4 of the coupling section 2. This ring is used simply as aprecaution and acts to support some of the weight and strain of thecoupling section 2 when the structure is assembled.

The form ofcoupling shown in Fig. 1 is assembled by first inserting thethreaded end of section 2 through the reduced opening in the collar 1 sothat the ball portion 4 thereof rests upon the ring IS, the lowersealing ring III having been inserted in its recess on the collar. Thesocket portion '3 of the upper coupling section I with the sealing ring9 and grease'ring I l are then slipped over the upper end of the ball 4,

go the wedge lugs 5 slipping between the complementary lugs't of thecollar 1. A slight turn of the collar 1 to the right in Figs. 1 and 4brings the opposed wedging. surfaces of the complementary sets of lugsinto wedging engagement g5 and separates the abutments 5' and 6'sufficiently to permit the insertion of a wedge lock 8 as shown in Fig.4.

In line with each abutment 6', the lower edge of the coupling collar Tisprovided with a guide 30 opening I6 adapted to, receive the threadedlower endjfla of the wedge lock 8. Thus, the wedge lock 8 may beinsertedbetween the most convenient pair of opposed abutments 5' and 6' and asit is forced downwardly, the abutments 35 are further separated and thewedging surfaces of the complementary lugs 5 and 6 brought into tighterengagement. This naturally brings the bottom of the coupling collar 1and the socket portion of coupling section I into closer engagem mentand compresses the packing rings 9 and I0,

' forcing the inner surfaces thereof tightly against the periphery ofthe ball portion '4.

The wedge lock 8 may be forced into its wedging action by tapping thehead thereof with a ham-.

5 mer cr suitable instrument, the application'of a nut 8b to thethreaded end 8a of said wedge lock retaining the same in place. Thewedge lock may'be further forced inwardly by tightening the nut 81) fromtime to time if necessary. so After the coupling is assembled, analemite gun may be applied to a fitting in openingv I3 on thesocketportion 2 and grease injected under pres sure; into the cavity H, from.whence it isdistributed by the grease ring II. around the ball 5 portion4, thus insuring a tight coupling-the sectlons of which arecapableofaconsiderable rela-,

tive movementin. any. lateralidirectipmf- H In Fig. 31' have shown- --acoupling practically. identical with the, one just. described-with the,9 exception of the packing arrang'emenli. [Ilithis modified form,the-packing rings wand. IB' ar'e.

composed of any-suitable packing mate'rialL-and' formedwiththeirinnerfaces of a contour which conforms to periphery of the ball portion.4

- 9. 'ofith; lower-couplingisection ,2. order to ees jficominodatethefiaringupper edge of thef'ring 9 j theinner' wall or the socket portion"3;,.on the -upperfcoupling section-I .is'sexten'de'd inwardly "ofcoupling sections, an annular concave socket 7 "to forman annularshoulder 3". A grease ring I I separates the two packing rings as in theother form, and the underside of' the lower packing ring I0 is beveledto correspond with the upper beveled surface of ametal follower ring I1supon its underside by a series of auxiliary take-up screws II spacedaround the bottom wall of the coupling collar I.

Thus, with this form of coupling, the take-up screws may be initiallyset and the coupling sections and packing rings tightened by the wedg-'5 ing of the lugs and wedge look as described above. Then, if itbecomes necessary, the packing rings 9' and I0 may be further tightenedfrom'time to time. by screwing the-take-up screws I 8 against thefollower ring I! without disturbing the wedge 10 lock 8.

A still further modification or adaptation of the basic principle of myinvention is illustrated in Fig. 5 and comprises upper and lowercoupling sections 2| and 22, respectively, both of which 15 areinternally threaded at their outer ends to accommodate the threads .ofsections of pipe to be coupled. The lower extremity of the uppercoupling section 2| terminates in a thickened annular base, the outerface of which is rounded as at 23. The lower coupling section 22terminates at its upper end in an outwardly flaring shoulder V 24, theupper inner edge of which is recessed to receive a packing ring 25. Theexposed face of this ring is concave to conform to the shape of therounded face 23 on the base of the upper coupling section 2I. The lowersurface of the shoulder 24 is also rounded as at 26 to fit acomplementary rounded surface adjacent the opening in the bottom of acoupling collar 21. 30

The coupling collar 21 and the'upper coupling section 2| are providedwith cooperating wedge lugs similar in all respects to those shown inFigs. 1 and 4, and as in those forms, this coupling is assembled andlocked by a wedge lock 28.

Thus, when this coupling is assembled, the sections are capable of arelative movement as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, due to thecoopcrating rounded surfaces of the shoulder 24, the packing ring 25,and the adjacent faces of the 40 upper section 2| and the couplingcollar 21.

It will be apparent that a coupling constructed in accordance witheither of the forms of my'invention above described may be readily andrapidly assembled and disassembled simply by the application of orremoval 01 a single wedge lock followed by a slight turn of the couplingcollar, thus avoiding the necessity of screwing and unscrewing numerousbolts and nuts. Furthermore,

all forms of the inventionpossess the distinct '5 advantage of enablingan operator to apply the single wedge look atany convenient position onthe coupling. Regardless of the position at which the wedge lock. isinserted, the 'wedgingforceis applied. directly behind the wedge lugs,thereby insuring a maximum. of.- wedgingforce. without.

'to'rque and strain; on projecting ears o'r'abutments. From. theforegoing it is believed that the construction and advantages of myimproved flex so -i ble pipe couplings may be readily understood bythose skilled? in. the. artwithoutjfurthendescription, itLjbeingl' bornem nd; that numerous changes may be made in. the details disclosed mm oy, inve'nc5 without departing from-the tion'as set out in thefcllowingtclaims.

What mand desire to secure by Letters Patent is-:. 1

1. A fiexibiepipe coupling .including a pair spect thereto, a couplingcollar adaptedtoemone of said sections, outwardly projecting wedginglugs on the periphery of the other of said sections, oppositely disposedcomplementary wedging lugs on the inner'periphery of said collarcooperating with said first named lugs upon the rotation of said collar,opposed abutments on the flaring ends of the respective lugs, and meansfor applying a rotational force directly behind selected wedging lugs,comprising a tightening wedge interposed between the respective opposedabutments.

2. In a ball and socket pipe coupling, means for coupling the sectionsthereof together, including a coupling collar adapted to embrace saidsections, a pair of packing rings in a recessed portion of the socketsection of said pipe coupling adapted to embrace the adjacent surface ofthe ball section of said coupling, a grease ring interposed between saidpair of packing rings, said grease ring being provided with a series ofcommunicating radial ports terminating in communication with theperiphery of said ball section, means for supplying grease to saidgrease ring, means on said collar fol-engaging the ball section of saidcoupling, outwardly projecting wedging lugs on the periphery of thesocketsection of said coupling, oppositely disposed complementarywedging lugs on the inner periphery of said collar cooperating with saidfirst named lugs upon the rotation of said collar, opposed abutments onthe flaring ends of the respective lugs, and means for applying arotational force directly behind selected wedging lugs for bringing saidsections into close engagement and simultaneously compressing saidpacking rings, comprising a tightening wedge interposed between therespective opposed abutments.

MILLARD 1". WATERS. so

